Physiology of Ejaculation: Discover How Ejaculation Works

Regardless of becoming one of the most common male sexual issues, premature ejaculation is often misdiagnosed. As of the moment, no medical therapies currently exist as definitive “cures” for the ejaculatory dysfunction. This is because a little understanding regarding the physiology of ejaculation. And new studies continues to provide the quest that contribute the potential future treatment.

What’s the Difference Between Ejaculation and Orgasm?

Many people assume that ejaculation and orgasm are the same. The truth of the matter is that they’re completely different entity. Ejaculation, should not be confused with orgasm. It should be noted that even among experts, there seems to oftentimes be confusion between these two terms.

Ejaculation is the discharge of seminal fluid from the urethral meatus that typically accompanies sexual climax also known as orgasm. Ejaculation is the final phase and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an important element of natural conception.

On the other hand, orgasm is a purely cerebral and emotional cortical event and normally coincides with ejaculation. In a nutshell, orgasm is controlled by the involuntary or autonomic nervous system such as muscle spasms in multiple areas of the body, a general emotional sensation experienced and often body movements and vocalizations.

It is possible that men can achieve orgasm without ejaculation. This is known as ‘dry orgasm‘. In some cases, men are sometimes having difficulty in achieving orgasm despite the typical sexual desire and sexual stimulation. This ejaculatory dysfunction is called ‘delayed ejaculation‘, also called retarded ejaculation or inhibited ejaculation. Like women, men are also capable of achieving multiple orgasm.

Anatomy of Ejaculation: How Ejaculation Works?

The process of ejaculation can be divided into two stages: emission and expulsion.

How Ejaculation Works Stage 1: Emission (Seminal Emission)

During the emission stage, the muscles around the distal epididymis, ductus (vas) deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and prostatic urethra, and bladder neck contract to push the sperm into the prostate and urethra.

This motion helps prevent the retrograde stream of ejaculate into the bladder. Right after the bladder neck closure, secretion of fluid from the prostate, laden with acid phosphatase, citric acid and zinc mixes with spermatozoa-rich fluid from the vas deferens in the prostatic urethra.

How Ejaculation Works Stage 2: Expulsion or Ejaculatory

The expulsion phase follows the emission phase. Expulsion is made up of discharge of the products of emission from the urethra through the coordinated actions of the bladder neck, urethra, and pelvic striated muscle groups.

Relaxation of the external urinary sphincter is followed by clonic contractions of the prostate, bulbospongiosus muscle, ischiocavernosus, levatorani, and transverse perineal muscles. Through rhythmic contractions, the sperm and semen is expelled from the urethra and are ejaculated out of the penis. So that’s pretty much how ejaculation works.

What Happens to the Brain During Ejaculation?

Captured by PET scan and fMRI, human brain showed a strong supraspinal activity in the reward centre or the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during ejaculation. Studies have also shown a strong brain activity of the lateral putamen, various aspects of the prefrontal, temporal, parietal, and insular cortex; as well as the cerebellum has been seen and increase of brain activities during ejaculation and orgasm.

Does Your Brain Release Dopamine When You Ejaculate?

Since dopamine is the brain’s reward and pleasure centres, it plays an excitatory role during ejaculation. Dopamine deficiency may lead to Parkinson’s Disease, and people with low dopamine activity are more susceptible to addiction.

According to a study, conducted on male Parkinson’s patients receiving L -DOPA has experienced hypersexuality in the form of increased libido, masturbation, sexual hallucinations, and spontaneous nocturnal erections. The moment you start to feel aroused, dopamine is being released.